City council whittled, pared and trimmed Monday, ending the day with a 1.38 per cent tax increase for Salmon Arm taxpayers.
Budget day began in its usual way, with city staff having trimmed their departmental budgets as much as possible, providing council with a potential 2.33 per cent tax increase for 2014.
Following council’s paring, the 1.38 per cent increase translates into a residential tax increase of $6.22 per $100,000 of assessment (an $18.66 increase for a $300,000 home, for instance) and a business tax increase of $15.35 per $100,000 of assessment.
Along with the budget increase comes a two per cent increase in water and sewer user fees. Unchanged, but still a cost for taxpayers, is the user fee levy for solid waste and recycling, which will remain at its 2013 rate of $135.
Big-ticket items for 2014 include $1.8 million to replace the sanitary sewer main along the foreshore, which experienced a break in 2012; $500,000 for Blackburn Park improvements including a championship soccer field, a LifeTrail system, a picnic area and improved landscaping and irrigation; and $800,000 for development of the new cemetery at the corner of 20th Avenue and 30th Street SE, including surveying and getting gravel roads and turf in place so it will be ready for use in 2015.
These three items were recommended for long-term borrowing by Monica Dalziel, the city’s chief financial officer, a step which would require a public approval process.
Also in the budget is design and construction of the Syme Bridge on 70th Avenue SW that spans the Salmon River at an estimated cost of $430,000, three-quarters of which has already been saved in reserves.
Some other items include: a $1,500 contribution for installation of pedestrian countdown timers at downtown intersections; $9,000 for participation in the BC One Call system, which alerts excavators to buried cables and pipelines; $20,000 to assess properties under upcoming contaminated sites legislation; $300,000 to replace a 1989 pumper truck at the Canoe fire hall; $18,000 for an increase in remuneration for voluntary on-call staff at the fire department; a $100,000 increase to the police department, mainly for two new police vehicles, and new closed-circuit video equipment.
A request from Community Futures Shuswap and the Wetland Alliance for a flood hazard and risk assessment at an estimated cost of $80,000, received council’s approval of $20,000 towards the study.
The assessment has been requested repeatedly by some citizens, but has not been supported by a majority of council. On Monday, all council members except Coun. Marg Kentel voted for the $20,000. Kentel suggested $10,000 would be enough if the assessment isn’t going to be undertaken until 2018 or 2019.
Coun. Alan Harrison said he thinks $20,000 would be the appropriate amount in 2014, as the total would then be up to $80,000 in 2017, when it could begin.
Highlights of the budget for council were varied, although all expressed appreciation for the hard work of staff.
“For me the number one highlight was coming in at a 1.4 per cent budget increase while maintaining the core services the city provides: $900,000 asphaltic overlays to maintain our roads, plans to replace the sanitary sewer main from Engineers Point to the wharf, funding police/fire functions at an adequate level with a small bump for our volunteer, stand-by firefighters and finally, replacement of Syme Bridge,” said Harrison.
Coun. Denise Reimer pointed to replacement of the foreshore sanitary sewer main.
“This project was identified as an immediate priority in the strategic planning process, therefore I am pleased it has been included in the budget. The budget also includes funding for major brush maintenance which will allow crews to start controlling roadway foliage. This will allow crews to then access ditches that require maintenance. The other benefit will be to residents travelling on our roads, allowing better sight lines in areas of obscured vision.”
Coun. Chad Eliason said he is pleased with being able to keep taxes low while offering good services.
“Blackburn Park will get another step closer to completion with a new soccer field, revitalized picnic shelter and a LifeTrail system. These are the things the community has long asked for and I am really happy we can finally deliver.”
Mayor Nancy Cooper pointed to the way council was able to keep the tax increase to a minimum.
“To achieve this we used Community Works funds (gas tax funds) to fund $107,250 of the Syme Bridge replacement cost. We cut some items and funded others half this year and half next year. This meant we could add $20,000 to the budget for preparation of a Canoe Beach Master Plan and another $20,000 (of the estimated $80,000 required) for the flood hazard and risk assessment.”